Regarding Being "Open and Affirming"
There is a movement today in progressive Christianity called “Open and Affirming”. According to its website:
"A congregation becomes Open and Affirming when it affirms a public covenant that “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT)” (or people of all “sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions”) are welcome in the full life and ministry of the congregation (e.g. membership, leadership, employment)."
Non-heterosexual behaviors have been practiced and tolerated within some societies at times, but never approved as a society-wide alternative to heterosexuality, formally or informally, anywhere in human history, much less in Christianity, which has always deemed such things as contrary to God’s will and design.
Our church retains the traditional Christian beliefs regarding sexuality. We are open to and affirming of God’s Word — and we call people to repentance (not acceptance) of things God calls sin.
Our congregation recently amended its statement of faith, formally distinguishing our traditional Christian beliefs from American society’s novel beliefs. I’ve reduced the full statement (available on our website) to its main points:
…We believe God created only two sexes, male and female.
…We believe that marriage sanctioned by God…joins one man and one woman in a single, covenantal union, as delineated by Scripture.
…We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage.
…We believe that God creates each person as male or female…and the rejection of one's biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
Our doors are open for anyone to attend our services, provided they do so without behaving in ways that disrupt the peace of the service. Anyone wishing to be a member of our church, however, must subscribe to these points in our statement of faith, which are based on the order of God’s creation described in the opening chapters of Genesis.
"A congregation becomes Open and Affirming when it affirms a public covenant that “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT)” (or people of all “sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions”) are welcome in the full life and ministry of the congregation (e.g. membership, leadership, employment)."
Non-heterosexual behaviors have been practiced and tolerated within some societies at times, but never approved as a society-wide alternative to heterosexuality, formally or informally, anywhere in human history, much less in Christianity, which has always deemed such things as contrary to God’s will and design.
Our church retains the traditional Christian beliefs regarding sexuality. We are open to and affirming of God’s Word — and we call people to repentance (not acceptance) of things God calls sin.
Our congregation recently amended its statement of faith, formally distinguishing our traditional Christian beliefs from American society’s novel beliefs. I’ve reduced the full statement (available on our website) to its main points:
…We believe God created only two sexes, male and female.
…We believe that marriage sanctioned by God…joins one man and one woman in a single, covenantal union, as delineated by Scripture.
…We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage.
…We believe that God creates each person as male or female…and the rejection of one's biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
Our doors are open for anyone to attend our services, provided they do so without behaving in ways that disrupt the peace of the service. Anyone wishing to be a member of our church, however, must subscribe to these points in our statement of faith, which are based on the order of God’s creation described in the opening chapters of Genesis.